Commuters to see greater police presence

SALEM -- A state grant will help the police department keep more officers on the road for traffic patrols during peak commuting hours.

Earlier this week, selectmen unanimously voted to accept a $5,148 highway safety grant from the state's public safety department.

"This will pay 100 percent of the wages and benefits for the police officers working on this grant for traffic enforcement during peak commuting hours," said Everett McBride, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten said the grant will cover peak communing hours in the morning and in the afternoon.

"These are the grants that fund additional officers in addition to what we have on the road," said Patten.

The additional officers are able to provide coverage if the officers on regular duty are called away for an accident or other business.

"It adds additional guys on the road strictly for motor vehicle enforcement during the peak times of traffic," Patten said.